We want to hear residents' views and priorities as we start setting our budget for 2019/20.
Enfield Council wants to hear residents’ views and priorities as it starts the task of setting its budget for 2019/2020 against a backdrop of needing to find savings of £18million.
Since 2010 Enfield Council has had to save £178million because of Government spending cuts and increasing pressure on services. The core funding the Council receives from Government to provide vital services for its residents has been cut by an average of £800 per household in Enfield.
Residents’ views will help to shape those decisions and the way the Council responds to the financial challenges it faces.
Cllr Mary Maguire, Enfield Council’s Cabinet Member for Finance and Procurement, said: “Ongoing funding reductions mean we need to make a further £18million of savings or increased income in 2019/2020. To give you an indication of the scale of this challenge £18million is more than our current combined net spend on Housing Services, Leisure, Culture, Libraries, Parks and Open Spaces.
“These cuts, coupled with increasing pressures on services from a growing population, mean that difficult decisions are having to be made by the Council on the future of many services.
“Despite these challenges we continue to deliver for the people of Enfield and remain hugely ambitious for the borough.
“Our estate renewal programmes in New Southgate and Ponders End continue apace, and together with our other major regeneration projects throughout the borough will deliver thousands of new homes and jobs for our residents over the next few years.
“We also remain absolutely committed to creating strong and healthy communities. This includes tackling all types of crime and anti-social behaviour, a commitment demonstrated by our funding of 16 police officers to make our housing estates safer.”
Much of Enfield Council’s annual budget is ring-fenced for spend on specific services such as schools and housing benefit payments and as a result the Council is limited in where it can make savings.
In addition, an increasing population puts more strain on our services. It is estimated that Enfield’s population now stands at 332,700 and it could grow to as much as 351,800 by 2021.